Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, warned that recent U.S. and Israeli actions in the region have increased the risk of a broader confrontation, saying that American military installations and Israeli interests across the Middle East could become potential targets.
In a statement posted on X, Qalibaf criticized the U.S. naval blockade imposed on Iran and accused Washington of backing an escalation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon. His comments came shortly after Israeli strikes targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area widely regarded as a stronghold of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese group.
Qalibaf argued that the latest developments demonstrate a lack of commitment to both ceasefire efforts and diplomatic engagement. He said that the naval measures against Iran and what he described as violations of understandings related to Lebanon reflected a preference for coercion over negotiation.
The remarks underscore growing tensions in the region as exchanges between Israel, Hezbollah, and their respective allies continue to raise concerns about a wider conflict.